Curlin appears to be the favorite to be named Horse of the Year on Monday night in Miami, but each time I watch the replay of last April’s Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park, when Zenyatta just inhaled a field that included defending Distaff Eclipse winner Ginger Punch, I am more convinced that no horse dominated its division like Zenyatta did the distaffers in 2008. She’s undefeated, folks, and Curlin lost twice, once on Breeders’ Cup day when Zenyatta ran her year’s record to 7-0 and lifetime mark to 9-0.
What’s scary is that she’s won 8 of her 9 races on synthetics. The Apple Blossom was on dirt, and it was arguably her most impressive effort to date. She’s not just a synthetic freak, and consider this — she might even be better on dirt. She should be Horse of the Year.
